Football Association Suspected of Providing Sexual Favors to Foreign Referees... Massage Parlor Payments Made with Corporate Card

[Financial News] An audit by the government has revealed signs that the Korea Football Association (KFA) provided sexual favors to foreign referees before and after national team matches in the past.
According to an audit report released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 6th, the KFA is believed to have provided sexual favors to about 10 people, including referees and match commissioners, in seven matches held in South Korea between March 2011 and March 2012. The matches included three World Cup and Olympic qualifiers and four friendlies.
In the early hours of Feb. 29, 2012, on the day of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier between South Korea and Kuwait at Seoul World Cup Stadium, 500,000 won was charged to the association's corporate card at a massage parlor in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The ministry concluded that this payment was sexual favors for two referees who took part in the match.
On Sept. 22 of the same year, 760,000 won was paid at a massage parlor in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. It came shortly after the South Korean national team played Oman in the final round of the 2012 London Olympics qualifiers at Changwon Football Center. The ministry also viewed this as sexual favors for four referees.
Hospitality was also provided to a match commissioner who oversaw the referees. On March 14, 2012, 198,000 won was charged at a massage parlor in Yeoksam-dong, and the ministry determined that it was sexual favors for one commissioner.
During the audit, the ministry reached this conclusion by reviewing testimony from multiple KFA refereeing officials, corporate card usage records, and the association's explanations. It was also reported that former association officials said such hospitality had been provided as a matter of routine.
A ministry official said, "This was the result of an investigation based on a comprehensive review of various materials at the time." A KFA official said, "We now have a thorough management system in place and are complying with the guidelines."
[email protected] Sung Min-seo Reporter